All articles tagged with #blood donation
Rh null blood, the rarest blood type, lacks all Rh antigens and is highly valuable for transfusions due to its universal compatibility, but creating lab-grown Rh null blood remains a complex challenge involving advanced stem cell technology and gene editing.
Donating blood can save thousands of lives each year and is currently urgently needed due to a blood shortage emergency in the U.S. It not only helps recipients but also provides health benefits to the donor, including screening for vital signs, lowering blood pressure, improving heart attack risk, helping hereditary conditions, and boosting mental health. Tips for donating blood include staying hydrated, getting enough sleep, and eating a meal before the appointment.
The American Red Cross has declared an emergency blood shortage, with the number of blood donors hitting a 20-year low, posing a significant risk to patients in need of transfusions. Factors such as severe winter weather, seasonal illnesses, and changes in donor base motivation have contributed to the shortage. The organization is urging people, especially those with type O blood and platelets, to donate now, as the availability of blood can be a matter of life and death. This announcement coincides with the start of National Blood Donor Month, and individuals who donate this January have the chance to win a trip for two to the Super Bowl.
The American Red Cross has declared an emergency blood shortage in the United States, with the number of donors hitting a 20-year low. Severe winter weather and seasonal illnesses have led to cancellations of donations, causing a critical shortfall in blood supply for hospitals and patients in need. The organization is urging healthcare professionals and the public to donate blood, particularly platelets and red blood cells, to help replenish the supply. The shortage has prompted the Red Cross to limit distributions of type O blood products to hospitals, and they are calling for increased donations to address the emergency.
The American Red Cross has declared a nationwide emergency blood shortage, with a 20-year low in donors and a loss of 300,000 donors since the COVID-19 pandemic. The shortage could lead to hospitals making difficult decisions about prioritizing patients for blood transfusions, potentially impacting surgeries and patient care. The organization is urging people to donate, particularly Type O blood and platelets needed for cancer and trauma patients, and individuals interested in donating can schedule an appointment at RedCrossBlood.org.
Under new federal guidelines finalized in May, gay and bisexual men in monogamous relationships can now donate blood at many blood centers without abstaining from sex. The guidelines, which put the emphasis on sexual activity rather than sexual orientation, aim to reverse restrictions that were seen as discriminatory. About half of the 16 independent blood bank organizations in the Alliance for Community Transfusion Services have implemented the new guidelines, with more expected to follow next year. The change has been welcomed by many in the LGBTQ+ community who can now contribute to the blood supply and support the mission of blood centers.
The American Red Cross generates over $3.2 billion in operating revenue, with contributions making up only a third of its revenue. The majority of its revenue, around $1.8 billion, comes from selling blood collected from donors to hospitals and medical facilities across the country. The organization does not charge for the blood itself but is reimbursed by hospitals for the costs associated with providing blood products. The American Red Cross spends over $2 billion on collecting blood, which is about $139 million more than the revenue it collects from selling the blood.
Diablo IV is running a Blood Harvest event where players can donate blood at blood centers in exchange for in-game items and a chance to win a liquid-cooled PC infused with human blood. The goal is to collect 666 quarts of blood, with in-game rewards unlocked at different milestones. U.S. residents over 18 can participate, and those who are ineligible or overseas can still benefit in-game. The event has sparked interest and raised questions about the source of the blood used in the PC.
Blizzard is running a promotion called Blood Harvest for Diablo 4, encouraging US players to donate blood. Once 666 quarts of blood have been donated, a sweepstake will open for a chance to win a custom liquid cooled PC infused with real human blood. The campaign has already reached 27% progress, with in-game items being unlocked as milestones are reached.
Starting Monday, the Red Cross will use a more inclusive risk-based individual assessment to determine if someone is eligible to give blood, regardless of their sexual orientation. This change marks a significant milestone for the LGBTQ+ community and is considered one of the most significant changes in blood banking history. The previous FDA policy, which banned most gay men from donating blood, was rooted in stigma and did not reflect the advances in HIV screening and prevention. While the new guidance is a step forward, some critics argue that it still perpetuates stigma and excludes certain individuals who should be considered safe donors. The Red Cross hopes that the updated policy will encourage more people to donate blood and will continue to work with the FDA to gather more data and potentially eliminate further deferrals in the future.
Donating blood is safe and healthy for most people, and only a few conditions put you on the lifetime “cannot donate” list. All blood types are needed, and donations of any type are appreciated. There are eight known blood types, and O type blood is always in demand because it can be used for all procedures. The FDA has updated its guidelines to allow gay and bisexual men to give blood, but blood bank officials will ask each potential donor about their history of high-risk behavior within the prior three months.
A protein found in bats called "bat ASC2" could have therapeutic potential for humans, as it suppresses the inflammatory response and could explain their long lives and imperviousness to certain viruses. New FDA guidelines allow gay and bisexual men in monogamous relationships to donate blood without abstaining from sex. The American Psychological Association issued its first advisory aimed at guiding teens' social media use, recommending establishing social media limits and boundaries, giving teens training in social media literacy, and reducing adolescents' risk of exposure to illegal or psychologically maladaptive behavior. An algorithm developed using artificial intelligence could provide faster, more accurate heart attack diagnoses, relieving pressure on emergency departments.
A protein found in bats called "bat ASC2" could have therapeutic potential for humans, as it suppresses the inflammatory response and could explain their long lives and imperviousness to certain viruses. New FDA guidelines allow gay and bisexual men in monogamous relationships to donate blood without abstaining from sex. The American Psychological Association issued its first advisory aimed at guiding teens' social media use, recommending establishing social media limits and boundaries, giving teens training in social media literacy, and reducing adolescents' risk of exposure to illegal or psychologically maladaptive behavior. An algorithm developed using artificial intelligence could provide faster, more accurate heart attack diagnoses, relieving pressure on emergency departments.
The FDA has officially eliminated restrictions that had previously prohibited many blood donations by gay and bisexual men, replacing them with "individual risk-based questions" that will be the same for every blood donor, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender or sex. Most gay and bisexual men who are in a monogamous relationship with a man will no longer have to refrain from sex in order to donate blood. The changes are aimed at addressing years-long criticisms that the previous policy was discriminatory and outdated, and posed yet another barrier to bolstering the nation's blood supply.
The FDA has finalized a plan to ease restrictions on blood donation by men who have sex with men. The new policy updates risk-based individual questionnaires to reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted HIV. The screening questions will still recommend deferral of individuals who report having a new sexual partner and have engaged in anal sex in the past three months. The FDA believes the new policy will not hurt the safety or availability of the nation’s blood supply. Blood donation establishments may now implement the new policy.